After staying in the capital for a few more days, once Yu Qian and Wu Jing finished up their work, the group of four took a flight back to Luzhou together. The extra days were also to wait for Xie Nan to return so they could head back together, and this time, they’d also pay a visit to the future father-in-law. Though they’d been dating for years, they weren’t married yet, and this was the first time he’d be visiting.
“Brother Jing, nervous?” Zhou You noticed his visible tension and fidgeting, so he couldn’t resist teasing the future tough-guy persona.
“Nervous? How could I be nervous? I’ve seen it all.” Wu Jing wouldn’t back down verbally.
“What do you mean? Have you met other father-in-laws before?” Xie Nan struck a fatal blow.
Wu Jing’s face instantly twisted into a grimace, his hands poking at each other restlessly. “Nervous, nervous, very nervous. I was just joking to lighten the mood, okay?”
Zhou You and Yu Qian burst out laughing. If you’re a tiger, you lie low; if you’re a wolf, you stay crouched. And he wasn’t even a wolf yet, daring to bare his teeth?
Xie Nan and Zhou You were from the same hometown, so on their first meeting, they couldn’t help but chat more. “Teacher Zhou, which school do you teach at?”
“Luzhou University. I just love being a teacher, interacting with young people every day—it’s a lot of fun,” Zhou You replied.
“Great school, a key university. I couldn’t get in back then. Sigh, I wanted to be a teacher too—so easy and laid-back.” People always want it all.
“Teachers are poor, not as well-paid or well-treated as you all,” Zhou You said honestly. If the job didn’t pay, no one would go into it.
When Zhou You said that, the others laughed. “We don’t know if other teachers are poor, but you’re definitely not.”
“Haha, I’m an exception, no comparison,” Zhou You couldn’t help but laugh too.
“Where does Xie Nan’s family live now?” Zhou You asked.
“Still in Yaohai District. My parents are used to it there, surrounded by old friends, and don’t want to move. Where do you live?” Xie Nan asked curiously.
“Near the school, by Emerald Lake.”
“Emerald Lake is great—fresh air, quiet living, and convenient transportation now. I visited that school back then and really liked it,” Xie Nan said enviously.
“Alright, let me show you later. I’ve arranged lunch at the Emerald Lake Guesthouse today to play host and welcome you all,” Zhou You said, planning to handle everything.
During the flight, someone in their group was recognized, but since none of them were hugely famous, and they didn’t run into any foolish young fans, they just got a few extra glances.
Zhou You never understood why some fans were so crazy, especially idol fans. Was it out of sheer emptiness? Or because they felt too insignificant and needed a spiritual crutch? Or maybe just plain stupidity? Or to show off how different they were? Or to find comfort in a group?
It reminded him of a book, *The True Believer*. Most of these people were failures. “When they lose their individual independence in a movement, they gain a new freedom—a freedom to hate, to intimidate, to lie, to abuse, to betray without guilt.” With proper guidance, these passionate young souls could become excellent expendable resources.
After landing, Li Houliang was already waiting. After returning from Shanghai, he’d bought a business van, a classic and practical Buick GL8. It was brand new and already put to use.
The moment Wu Jing saw Li Houliang, he felt a fierce aura rushing toward him. In Li Houliang’s own words, his fighting skills were sharper than before. With a more stable environment and support team, he could clearly sense his own improvement. But if you asked him to compete again, he wouldn’t want to—the main goal of fighting was to make money, and since he could now earn and improve himself, why bother with matches?
“Brother Liang, this is Wu Jing, an actor and a former martial artist,” Zhou You introduced them.
“I know him. I’ve seen a few of his movies—his fight scenes are very polished,” Li Houliang said. Guys like him rarely followed celebrities; life had handed them too much hardship to waste time on that. Besides, now that he was with Zhou You, he’d meet even more stars and couldn’t afford to embarrass himself.
Wu Jing bristled at Li Houliang’s words. “Polished fight scenes”? He could fight for real!
“Brother Liang, right? I was hoping to visit your training gym this time. Let’s spar on the mat when you’re free,” Wu Jing challenged.
“Sure, we’ll practice then,” Li Houliang didn’t back down. A martial artist couldn’t show weakness—doing so meant losing half the battle.
Seeing the heated atmosphere, Zhou You was pleased. He considered himself half a martial artist now, with a fiery spirit, but he knew his priorities.
“Brother Jing has a big task here this time. Let him visit his father-in-law first, then we’ll play. Otherwise, showing up with a bruised face wouldn’t look good.”
Xie Nan saw Wu Jing’s combative streak flare up again and pinched his waist. Wu Jing winced in pain and kept quiet.
Zhou You had come to terms with things by now. He invited Wang Fangfang to join them for lunch, and no one was surprised—the entertainment industry’s standards were far lower. At least he openly admitted she was his girlfriend. How many in showbiz had no title and stayed hidden forever?
After the meal, Zhou You took everyone to see his new villa. It was fully decorated but still airing out. The neighborhood bordered the lake, just across a road. His villa sat in the middle of the complex, a five-minute walk through the paths to reach it. It was a standalone house with its own yard.
Pushing open the door, there was a grape trellis, now covered in vines, a layer of vivid green so bright it made you think the grapes were almost ripe. The ground was paved with stone slabs—Zhou You’s idea for easy repairs or renovations later, or to grow vegetables, fruits, or trees by lifting them up. In a corner, he’d had a small pond built, stocked with lotus and a few goldfish. That part he wasn’t thrilled about—why goldfish? He had no time now, but once things settled, he’d definitely catch some crucian carp, carp, or grass carp to put in. A fisherman’s tank had no room for ornamental fish!
They toured the gym, the home theater, the game room, and a massive bathtub. Then they checked out the bedroom.
Good grief.
“How big is this bed?” Yu Qian couldn’t help asking.
“Four meters by three meters. Everything’s custom-made. I had it specially built. My biggest dream since childhood was to have a huge bed where I could toss and turn however I wanted.”
Man, that’s impressive.